The Casablanca Court of First Instance sentenced activist Fouad Abdelmoumni on Monday, March 3, to six months in prison and a fine of 2,000 dirhams. Until now, he had been prosecuted while free on charges of «insulting public authorities, spreading false allegations, and reporting a fictitious crime he knew did not occur». On social media, Abdelmoumni had commented on French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to Morocco from October 28 to 30, 2024, addressing Morocco-France relations, the Pegasus case, and the previous diplomatic crisis between the two countries. He was arrested on October 31. In a press statement, the deputy public prosecutor at the Casablanca Court of First Instance stated that the charges were related to «publishing data and allegations harmful to Morocco's interests and some of its institutions, exceeding the limits of freedom of expression and constituting criminal offenses punishable by law». Since last month, Abdelmoumni has not attended his trial hearings. His defense has represented him in his absence, citing his medical treatment abroad.
